Organiser columnist M.V. Kamat says the only question one needs to ask before signing the 123 agreement with the US is, “Can we trust America?” And, “The plain and simple answer is: We can’t.”

It continues: “The US is determined to hold on to two aims: One, to remain the only Super Power on earth, unchallenged and unchallengeable and two, to maintain an economic stranglehold on all countries, especially the developing ones and, most notably, India.”

The US’s record in winning trust is “abominable” it says. “It is doubtful whether it would have gone to the succour of even Britain when Hitler started World War II. It joined the conflict only when Japan attacked its Navy at Pearl Harbour. It made friends with the Shah of Iran when it needed him most. When he ceased to be of any use, he was unceremoniously dumped. When it suited its purpose, it gave Pakistan every assistance possible and it couldn’t care less if that hurt India, described as the single largest democracy in the world. When it suited its purpose again, Saddam Hussein was given full support in terms of arms and equipment. When it didn’t, the US turned against him in full fury and ultimately had him hanged. To keep the Soviet Union out of Afghanistan, the US encouraged Pakistan to help set up the most reactionary forces in Islam, notably the Taliban and Al Qaida and gave liberal support to them.”

Poor Left

The Organiser editorial is on the ‘agony of the Left’. “But there is no sympathy for it”, it says, “because of the duplicitous role it has been playing for the last three years. Only that the prime minister’s blunt statement asking it to shut up or get out has made its position untenable”.

... contd.